About the NNS Open Housing anniversary series

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of an extraordinary event in Milwaukee history. A group of African-American teenagers belonging to the NAACP Youth Council, under the guidance of their advisor, the Rev. James Groppi, marched for 200 nights, often facing hostile white crowds, in support of open housing legislation in the city. To commemorate the anniversary, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service has created a series of articles, videos and photographs examining various aspects of the March on Milwaukee.

The series will run twice a week through July, and begins with an article explaining the historical context of the march. Other pieces address the persistence of housing segregation; the role of women; the roots of black activism; and diversity in the Common Council. In addition, using video and text, the series recounts how the experience of participating in the marches affected the lives of nine Youth Council members, and looks back at the period through the eyes of some white Milwaukeeans.